Engine.



T. J. ASHBY.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION 11mm 001'. a, 1911. 1,026,424. Patented May 14, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE J. ASHBY, or PER YVILLE, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-FOURTH To J. E. BELL, or cannon, GEORGIA.

ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Tnnononn J. ASHBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Perryville, in the county of Perry and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in engines and refers particularly to an engine of the rotary type, and one object of my invention is the provision of a rotary engine which will be capable of being instantly reversed and which will comprise simple and efficient mechanism for accomplishing the reversal of the engine.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an engine of the type described which will be simple in construction; embody few working parts to become worn; and which will be economical and highly efficient in operation.

To attain these objects, my invention broadly stated, resides in the provision of an engine embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts for service substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the engine. Fig. 2 is an end view of the cylinder. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the engine along line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cylinder along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates the open base or bed plate of the engine, having the uprights 2, carrying the journal boxes 2 in which is journaled the shaft 3, carrying the usual belt pulley and fly wheel, (not shown).

The numeral 4 designates the cylinder of my improved engine, within which is the circular chamber 5, surmounted by the steam'receiving recess or chamber 6, receiving the live steam from the steam induction pipe 7 and 8 denotes an exhaust pipe leading from said chamber.

The numeral 9 denotes the cylindrical shaped piston of the engine, which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 3, and is provided with the pair of projecting lugs or abutments 10 and 10, having the spiral springs 11 mounted in recesses 11 therein, the purpose of which is to press or force the wear plates 12 outwardly against the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 5, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

Serial No. 653,080.

perimeter of the cylinder and thus maintain a constant contact with the annular surface thereof.

13 designates a valve or gate seated at 14 in the steam receiving chamber 6, which is provided with the two diverging ports or nozzle shaped openings 15, 16, the purpose of which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter.

Mounted above the valve stem 17 of the valve 13 is the 'ack 18, adapted to engage the teeth of the lever 19, having the grip 20, while the valve stem 17 is provided with a suitable stuffing box 21, which acts as a closure for the chamber 6 and prevents the escape of the steam.

In operation, when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the live steam enters through the induction pipe 7 into the steam chamber 6, and passes through the port 15 into the circular chamber 5, where it is directed downwardly against the abutments 10, secured upon the piston 9, which is thereupon revolved in a direction from right to left, or clockwise, the exhaust or dead steam passing out through the exhaust pipe 8. WVhen it is desired to reverse the engine, it is simply necessary to swing the valve 13 upon its seat through the medium of the lever and rack mechanism until the port 16 is uncovered, whereupon the steam will pass therethrough, impact against the abutment 10, and rotate the piston in a counter direction, as will be readily understood. From this construction, it will be observed that I utilize the live steam as it enters the cylinder as a back pressure head and at the same time rotate the piston head.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accon'lpanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a novel and etlicient mechanism for accomplishing the objects heretofore stated; which will embody few working parts to become worn and replaced; thus efi'ecting a material saving in after expense; and which will eliminate many complicated features of construction now employed in engines of the rotary type.

I claim 1. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotatable piston mounted therein, a pair of piston heads formed integral with the piston, said heads comprising a pair of outwardly projecting parallel lugs and a spring receiving recess formed thereby, a spring in the recess having-its inner coil abutting against the outer perimeter of the piston, a wear plate interposed between the spring and the sinner perimeter of the cylinder, said outer perimeter of the piston and inner perimeter of the cylinder forming a clrcular steam by said valve, a rack mounted above the valve, a toothedlever engaged thereby, and a stuffing box forpreventing the'escape of 15 the steam from the cylinder.

2. A rotary engine, comprising a base plate, vertical uprights rising therefrom, journal boxes thereon in which bear the ends of thedrive shaft horizontally disposed 20 with reference to the base'plate, a cylinder, 7

a rotatable piston mounted therein upon the said shaft, projecting lugs formed integral with the piston and having spring pressed wear plates secured between the said springs and the inner perimeter of the cylinder, a circular chamber formed between the piston and the cylinder, a steam receivingchamber mounted thereabove, a valve seated therein and adapted to alternately open and close two nozzle-shaped diverging ports in said chamber, means for'moving said valve, and a stufling box for preventing the escape of the steam from the said steam receiving chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE J. ASHBY. WVit-nesses:

J. E. BRAZIL, W. F. TARWIN.

Copies 01' this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington; D. C. 

